Digital Divide and Its Impact on Women’s Access to Climate Resilience Information in Rural Mizoram
摘要
The ability to access climate resilience information is essential for adapting to environmental challenges, particularly in vulnerable communities. In rural Mizoram, however, the digital divide significantly hinders women’s access to vital climate-related information, exacerbating their vulnerability to climate risks. With 28.27% of villages lacking mobile connectivity and compounded by barriers such as rugged terrain, high costs of digital devices, and limited digital literacy, rural women face substantial challenges in obtaining crucial information on disaster preparedness, weather forecasts, and sustainable agricultural practices. This research explores the impact of the digital divide on rural women’s access to climate resilience information and investigates how local media and communication technologies can address this gap. Through a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys on digital access and literacy with qualitative interviews of rural women, community leaders, and policymakers, the study aims to identify the key barriers to digital inclusion and evaluate the potential of communication tools in enhancing climate resilience. By providing insights into the limitations of current digital infrastructure and the effectiveness of existing media channels, this study seeks to inform strategies for improving digital inclusion and fostering more inclusive climate adaptation approaches. Ultimately, the findings will contribute to empowering rural women in Mizoram to better respond to climate change impacts.